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Know signs of stroke to minimize damage

Dr. Michael Caldwell For the Poughkeepsie Journal


May is National Stroke Awareness Month. While stroke is all too common and often leaves devastating consequences, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much progress has been made in our fight against stroke since I entered medical school 30 years ago.

Back in 1986, I learned that stroke was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. For a long time it was heart disease, cancer and then stroke. Today, in 2016, it has dropped to the fifth leading cause of death; still heart disease first and then cancer, but now chronic lung disease and accidents have overtaken stroke as a leading cause of U.S. deaths.

The American Heart and Stroke Association notes that 800,000 Americans still suffer a stroke each year, approximately one every 40 seconds; and the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reports 133,000 deaths from stroke in the U.S. in 2014. That is approximately one death from stroke every four minutes and is one out of every 20 deaths in the U.S.


Stroke is also a leading cause of disability in the U.S. “Stroke is more disabling than it is fatal,” said Ralph Sacco MD, chairman of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors over age 65 and costs us more than $34 billion annually, including the cost of health care services, medications and lost productivity.


Although we have made great progress, we have potential to do much better and push stroke events and deaths down even more. “Far too many people are still dying from stroke and too many people are suffering greatly from this disease,” said Dr. Elliott Antman, associate dean for Clinical/Translational Research at Harvard Medical School.

Stroke Signs

What is a stroke?

Stroke is a brain attack, similar to the way we think of a heart attack. A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked. This can occur when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Brain cells are starved of oxygen and can die, which may result in permanent damage and disability.


What to do

Stroke is a medical emergency. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the NIH promotes an excellent campaign called, “ Know Stroke, Know the Signs, Act in Time.” If you can identify stroke quickly and seek medical attention immediately, damaging effects may be avoided or at least minimized. Here are the signs to look for in yourself or those around you:


  • Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

  • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking, or understanding

  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause


If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 and get to a hospital. Even if they go away quickly, it may still be a stroke.



Reducing your risk

Some risk factors for stroke cannot be changed, such as heredity, age, gender and ethnicity. One of the most important risks is uncontrolled blood pressure. Work with your doctor to keep your blood pressure in a safe zone. Quitting smoking and limiting your alcohol use are also important. Other conditions that may put you at risk are high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, overweight or obesity, and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise will also reduce your risk. No surprises here.


Life after a stroke

Many people who suffer a stroke earlier in life can go back to work and lead fulfilling and productive lives. The National Stroke Association provides guidance regarding Social Security benefits at http://www.stroke.org/we-can-help/survivors/stroke-recovery/lifestyle/financial/social-security-disability-insurance

Although challenging and life changing, stroke is not a death sentence. I had the opportunity to meet Kurt Douglas a few years after he suffered a stroke in 1996. While disabling, he looked at it as another challenge in a great acting career. He wrote a book called “My Stroke of Luck” and he offered up five pieces of advice for all of us who may be facing difficult times:


  • Things could always be worse.

  • Focus on the present and not on the past nor on what you could have done – focus on what you can do today.

  • Have a sense of humor in all of what you do with your family and your work.

  • Never, ever give up hope or your dreams of what could be – continue your march onward.

  • Finally, take time to pray … but remember, sometimes, God will say NO! – so accept it and go on … but never stop.


Twenty years after his stroke, Kurt is due to celebrate his 100th birthday later this year.

The significant reduction in stroke deaths has been one of the greatest public health achievements over the past 50 years. Let’s keep the trend going. I know that making healthy choices isn’t always easy; however, they can be habit forming, so give yourself another chance to change to better health today. Like Kurt says, focus on what you can do today.



Dr. Michael Caldwell is the former Dutchess County Commissioner of Health. Send comments to healthchief@yahoo.com; Twitter: @healthchief


On the Web



This article was originally published by the Poughkeepsie Journal on May 6, 2016. To check out the original article, check it out here: https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/health/2016/05/06/health-stroke/84023656/

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